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The Unseen Message of The Hunger Games
American Thinker ^ | 03/30/2012 | William Ward

Posted on 03/30/2012 6:44:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Though the liberal media and leftist Hollywood are wrapping themselves in The Hunger Games, the book series' pro-individualism, anti-socialist/communist/totalitarianism message has thus far eluded them -- but the legions of children reading the books are getting the message.

When I learned that my teenage sons -- macho young lads, to be sure -- were suddenly captivated by a book series featuring a 16-year-old female protagonist, I was intrigued, to say the least -- intrigued enough to read the books myself. As I progressed through the story, I found myself checking and re-checking the cover several times to make sure the author wasn't Ayn Rand.

Now that the first film of the series is in theaters, I'm reading lots of appraisals in the press which have suggested more of an Occupy Wall Street slant on the story: "[T]he corrupting force of power and privilege, the inhumanity of the mob, and how both conspire to make people do the unthinkable."

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, it chronicles a futuristic American society which has fallen under the grip of a brutal totalitarian communist government. Those connected with government live a life of wasteful opulence at the expense of the population, which has been sectioned off into impoverished fenced-in districts charged with producing the raw materials to sustain the capital. When children reach working age, their jobs are assigned to them, and compliance is enforced through the withholding of food rations and, ultimately, the hangman's noose. Ever-present are government "peacekeepers" charged with the surveillance of the people in an constant search for seditionists.

The author is starkly clear in this anti-oppressive government premise, and at no time during the reading of the books are you left with any sense this is a greedy rich vs. righteous poor tale.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: government; hungergames; thehungergames
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1 posted on 03/30/2012 6:44:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Good books & good movie.


2 posted on 03/30/2012 6:46:03 AM PDT by DollyCali (Don't tell God how big your storm is... tell your storm how BIG your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

I had to take my daughter to the movie even when I didn’t like seeing children killing each other....

But then, I reminded myself that such societies where healthy children were being sacrificed DID exist int he past ( and still exist today )....


3 posted on 03/30/2012 6:50:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t care how the media spins the story. I read the Hunger Games and it’s sequels almost a year ago. I don’t think Suzanne Collins had a specific agenda in mind, but to me, it is clearly to the right of center. The left is the the side that wants to control the people through intimidation, threats and distribution of goods for the common good - which never gets to the common people. It’s a fantastic series, no matter what age you are.


4 posted on 03/30/2012 6:51:28 AM PDT by melissa_in_ga (Laz would hit it.)
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To: SeekAndFind
I asked my sons (15, 13) what they thought the over all message of The Hunger Games was. The answer was that people want to live in freedom and not under government control like communism. My 13-year-old then said, "Mom. It's like the Obama States, and President Snow IS Obama.", which I admit, did make me giggle inwardly.

They get it.

5 posted on 03/30/2012 6:54:35 AM PDT by Shelayne
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To: melissa_in_ga

Just finshed book 3 yesterday. I have NOT seen the movie.

I think you are 100% correct. Nice summary.


6 posted on 03/30/2012 6:54:55 AM PDT by Hodar ( Who needs laws; when this FEELS so right?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Going to see it today.


7 posted on 03/30/2012 7:04:17 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free, never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Hodar

I thought the movie was wonderful and even better than the book if that is possible. The scene where Rue dies and Katnis mournes over her body sent chills up my spine. As she is walking away into the forest she turns looks up and gives audience back in district 11 a 3 fingered salute. Best scene in the movie.


8 posted on 03/30/2012 7:07:55 AM PDT by albionin
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To: SeekAndFind

What the progressives don’t grasp is the Capitol is filled with people who are NOT productive. The only way they survive is on the backs of the people in the Districts. They even have to rely on District 2 for Peacekeepers. Sounds a lot like Rome to me where the populace wasn’t even willing to defend themselves; they wound up using barbarians who eventually turned on them and sacked Rome.


9 posted on 03/30/2012 7:08:47 AM PDT by klgator
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To: SeekAndFind

I saw it. I tell libs that The Hunger Games is a cautionary tale based on what could happen to America if Obamunism continues.

They really hate that.


10 posted on 03/30/2012 7:10:24 AM PDT by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: Lee'sGhost

Oh, by “I saw it,” I meant the supposed “unseen message”. Though, I read the books and saw the movie also.


11 posted on 03/30/2012 7:11:44 AM PDT by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: Shelayne

Inwardly?! Dang, woman, that was worth a “yeeeeehaaaaa” and a high five.


12 posted on 03/30/2012 7:13:01 AM PDT by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: melissa_in_ga
It has always struck me as odd that writers, even those that you find out were of a secular humanist, or liberal, persuasion, when they want to write a good story always seem to go right, using conservative, that is, human themes.

I cannot think of one ideologically driven novel that I have ever read that told good story. Maybe that's just my own taste and prejudice.

But look at children's cartoons today (I have two very young granddaughters, that's how I know). What is there out there that compares with the Disney-Disney cartoons, with the Bugs Bunny, Wood Woodpecker, Road Runner, Speedy Gonzalez, and Mighty Mouse of years gone by? Nothing, that's what.

13 posted on 03/30/2012 7:14:09 AM PDT by chesley (Eat what you want, and die like a man. Never trust anyone who hasn't been punched in the face)
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To: SeekAndFind

Leftists like woodie barrel on made the movie

The problem for them is they are so insane far left- that they thought this was like a 99%er message. Leftists are always the good guys in their wacko world view.

Normal people see it - and think big government central control leftists - like Obama. Opposite of the intent.

Kind of funny.


14 posted on 03/30/2012 7:24:26 AM PDT by Eldon Tyrell
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To: melissa_in_ga

+1

Saw the movie and looking forward to any others like it.


15 posted on 03/30/2012 7:26:08 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: SeekAndFind; Travis McGee

Is Katness the teenaged version of Ranya Bardiwell from Freeper Matthew Bracken’s Enemies Foreign and Domestic?

Who wouldn’t like that?


16 posted on 03/30/2012 7:27:47 AM PDT by sockmonkey
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To: SeekAndFind

This shows, once again, how pathetic and desperate the left is to cling to any message and turn it to their benefit. There is NO WAY anyone who read the books could come up with an “occupy wallstreet” bent to this story. There are NO rich people other than the government - the government controls everything and everyone.


17 posted on 03/30/2012 7:27:56 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (ABO)
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To: SeekAndFind
Saw it twice. Loved the movie and the books. Made a new bumper sticker that has a little shot at the occupy and a shout out to hunger games fans It says

The other 1% is at the Capitol

18 posted on 03/30/2012 7:28:10 AM PDT by badpacifist (May the odds be ever in your favor)
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To: melissa_in_ga

Maybe I’ll check it out...I was thinking this was another young adult fad like Twilight.


19 posted on 03/30/2012 7:31:56 AM PDT by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
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To: SeekAndFind

20 posted on 03/30/2012 7:33:16 AM PDT by struggle (http://killthegovernment.wordpress.com/)
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